Icemaker cutter-grid-mounting means

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for releasably mounting a subdividing heated wire grid in the cabinet of an icemaker in which a slab of ice is formed and this slab transferred to the slab dividing grid all within the cabinet. This invention includes improved means including interengaging projections and projection receiving means such as slots together with movable catches for some of the slots with the result that the interengagement of the projections and slots provides effective but easily released mounting means for positioning the subdividing grid in the cabinet. The invention is particularly useful for large commercial icemakers in which there is located a plurality of the ice slab forming means positioned closely together vertically and in which the subdividing means or heated grid is located closely adjacent each vertical pair of slab forming means which in each instance is usually a refrigerant evaporator plate.

United States Patent George E. Pavek St. Paul Park, Minn. 882,632 Dec.5, 1969 Nov. 30,1971 Whirlpool Corporation [72] Inventor [21 Appl. No.[22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] ICEMAKERCU'I'IER-GRlD-MOUNTING MEANS 14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 62/298, 62/320, 248/239, 287/350, 62/348 [51 Int. Cl ..F25d19/00, F25c 1/00 [50] Field of Search 62/348,

3,289,430 12/1966 Dedricks et a1 62/347 X Primary Examiner-William F.ODea Assistant Examiner-J. D. Ferguson Anomeyslames S. Nettleton, ThomasE. Turcotte, Burton 11. Baker, Gene A. Heth, Franklin C. Harter, AnthonyNiewyk, Robert L. Judd and Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCordABSTRACT: Apparatus for releasably mounting a subdividing heated wiregrid in the cabinet of an icemaker in which a slab of ice is formed andthis slab transferred to the slab dividing grid all within the cabinet.This invention includes improved means including interengagingprojections and projection receiving means such as slots together withmovable catches for some of the slots with the result that theinterengagement of the projections and slots provides effective buteasily released mounting means for positioning the subdividing grid inthe cabinet. The invention is particularly useful for large commercialicemakers in which there is located a plurality of the ice slab formingmeans positioned closely together vertically and in which thesubdividing means or heated grid is located closely adjacent eachvertical pair of slab forming means which in each instance is usually arefrigerant evaporator plate.

ICEMAKER CUTTER-GRID-MOUNTING MEANS One of the features of thisinvention is to provide an improved apparatus for releasably mounting asubdividing means in an icemaker cabinet so that the subdividing means.usually an electrically heated grid, may be readily fixed in positionwithin the cabinet and removed as for servicing even though the spaceavailable is quite small and without requiring tools such as wrenches,screwdrivers or the like.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of one embodiment thereof as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

FIG. I is a front-elevational view of a commercial icemaker cabinethaving ice slab subdividing means therein embodying the invention andwith portions of the front door of the cabinet broken away for clarityof illustration.

FIG. 2 is a vertical-sectional view illustrating the releasable mountingapparatus on one side of the subdividing grid with this apparatus beingshown in elevation.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to the top portion of FIG. 2 but illustratingthe mounting apparatus in partially released position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating theprocedure for operating the releasable mounting apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical-sectional view takensubstantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a slidable catch on the mountingapparatus.

The icemaker 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is similar to the icemaker ofAyres et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,682,155, issued June 29, I954 and owned bythe assignee of the present application. Such an icemaker has beenwidely accepted as an efficient apparatus for making large amounts ofice cubes automatically and continuously. In such an icemaker the ice isformed by flowing water over an evaporator plate to produce an ice slabwhich is then released from the plate and permitted to fall into asubdividing means usually in the form ofa heated electric resistancewire grid formed of wires heated to a sufficient temperature to melt andsubdivide the slab into cubes.

In the icemaker 10 illustrated in FIG. I there are provided a pluralityof inclined vertically spaced rails 11. These rails are spacedvertically from each other but are positioned close together as shown sothat a large number of ice cubes may be formed simultaneously. The upperportions 12 of the rails support evaporator plates (not shown) that areinclined to substantially the same angle as the rails 11, asillustrated.

After the ice slabs have been formed they are released in the well-knownmanner and permitted to slide from the evaporator plates ontosubdividing means or cutting grids 13 positioned beneath the lower endsof the parallel rails 11. In order to aid in removing each cutting grid13 as desired as when ser vicing or cleaning or for any other reasoneach grid is provided with improved releasable mounting means.

The releasable mounting means for each grid 13 comprises a plurality ofinterengaging projections here shown as pins 14 and 15 and projectionreceiving means here shown as slots 16 and 17. The pins are located onthe backwall 24 of the cabinet 18 of the icemaker l0 and on the inside(not shown) of the rails 11, and the slots are located on the frame ofthe grid 13 with this frame being a rigid structural member here shownas the sheet metal periphery of the grid 13.

As can be seen from the drawings each slot 16 has an entrance 20 whileeach slot 17 has an entrance 21. The slots 16 and 17 are locatedadjacent opposite ends of side parallel flanges 22 that extend upwardlyfrom the front and rear sides 23 of the cutting grid frame 19. The rearside parallel flange 22, illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, is adapted to belocated against the backwall 24 of the cabinet 18. The front sideparallel flange, which is not shown since it is substantially the sameas rear flange 22, is adapted to be located against the inside of therails 11. In the illustrated embodiment the pairs of pins 14 and 15extend inwardly of the cabinet from wall 24 and from the rails 11.

As shown the end slot 16 on each of the pair of flanges 22 is locatedadjacent a corresponding end of its flange and extends in a generallyvertical direction. Each corresponding opposite slot 17 is at the otherend of its flange 22 and extends essentially horizontally.

In order to releasably retain the subdividing means or grid in positionin the cabinet 18 there are provided movable means for closing eachentrance on a first set of projection-receiving means to prevent removalof the corresponding projections therefrom with the others of thereceiving means including their entrances being unparallel to the firstset of projectionreceiving means to block release of all the projectionsfrom the receiving means when the first set entrances are closed by themovable means. In the illustrated embodiment the first set of projectionreceiving means comprises the vertical slots 16 on the opposite sideflanges 22. The others of the receiving means or slots are the oppositeend slots 17 which are unparallel to the slots 16 in that slots 17 arehorizontal.

The movable means for closing the entrances 20 to the first set of slots16 comprises a catch 25 for each slot 16 slidably mounted on a flange 22adjacent its slot 16. Each catch 25 as is illustrated most clearly inFIG. 6 includes an inwardly extending lip 26 adapted to underlie ahorizontal portion 27 that interconnects the top of the cutter frameside 23 and the outwardly located upwardly extending flange 22. Eachcatch also includes an inwardly extending handle 28 adapted to beengaged by the hand 29 of the operator for sliding the catch along itsflange 22. The catches mounted on the front side, parallel flange ofgrid 13, are not shown since they are mirror images of the catches 25.

Each flange 22 in the region adjacent a slot 16 is deformed asillustrated by a pair of dimples 30 or embossments so as to provide afriction resistance to the movement of the catch 25 as illustrated inFIG. 2. The detents retain the catch in a desired ready for assemblyposition during shipment of the grid 13. When each catch is in this pinlocking position of FIG. 2 the pin 14 is retained in a pair ofhorizontal slots 31 in the opposite sides 32 of the catch. Asillustrated, these opposite sides 32 are located against the oppositeside surfaces of flanges 22 so that opposite side surfaces actuallyprovide bearing surfaces for the movable catch. Although grid 13 isslightly inclined as shown in FIG. 1, the catches 25 and their mirrorimages adjacent the front of the cabinet are positively prevented fromsliding off the lower ends of the flanges 22 due to vibrations caused byicemaker operation since the bight portions of the slots 31 will bearagainst the right side of pins 14 as indicated in FIG. 2. This would notbe possible if the catches mounted on the front side parallel flange ofgrid 13 were not mirror images of the catches 25.

As described above, the subdividing means structural member 19 is a partof the peripheral frame of the grid means or cutting grid 13. A pair ofopposite parallel sides 23 of this frame member are bent outwardly asshown at 27 and then upwardly to provide the mounting flanges 22. Thenat one corresponding end of each flange 22 are located the vertical slot16 and its slidable catch 25 while at the other end of each flange 22 islocated the inwardly extending horizontal slot 17 with its entrance end21 at the extreme end of the flange.

In mounting each of the plurality of cutting grids 13 in the narrowspace available between each pair of vertically adjacent rails 11 it isonly necessary to manipulate the grid 13 to locate the pins 15 at theinner ends of their horizontal slots 17 and to manipulate the grid sothat the other set of pins 14 are located at the bottom of their slots16. This can all be done quite easily as the grids are lightweight. Withthe pins in these positions in their slots it is then only necessary tograsp each catch 25 by its handle 28 and move the catch to the left, asshown in the drawings, so that each pin 14 is received in the oppositeside slots 31 of the catch as shown. The cutting grid 13 is thensecurely locked in position as the catches 25 hold each grid at one endand the horizontal arrangement of the opposite slots 17 prevents removalof the other pins 15 therefrom.

The cabinet 18 is provided with a hinged door 50 to afford easy accessfor service or cleaning of the interior or the cabinet. Door 50 ishinged about a vertical axis adjacent the left edge 50a of door 50. Thetop, right edge, and lower edge of door 50 are identified by referencenumerals 50b, 50c, and 50d, respectively. In the event it becomesnecessary to remove a grid from the cabinet as for servicing, cleaningor the like, it is only necessary to open the door 50 by pulling onright edge 50c to obtain access to the interior of cabinet 18, and thenhold the grid with one hand while moving the two opposite catches 25 torelease positions or to the right as shown in the illustrated embodimentso that the left-hand end of the grid can be lowered to disengage itsslots 16 from their pins 14 and then move the grid to the left todisengage the other pins 15 from their horizontal slots 17.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiment shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be notlimited by any of the details of description, unless otherwisespecified.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1, In an icemaker having a cabinet, ice-slab-forming means, andsubdividing grid means for subdividing an ice slab into smallerportions, said subdividing means including a structural member,apparatus for releasably mounting said subdividing means in saidcabinet, comprising: a plurality of interengaging projections on saidcabinet and projection-receiving means on said structural member, eachsaid receiving means having an entrance for receiving its interengagedprojection; and movable means movably carried on said structural memberadjacent a first set of said projection receiving means gravitationallybiased to close the entrance thereof to prevent removal from theprojection-receiving means of corresponding projections receivedtherein, the others of said receiving means having their entrancesopening unparallel to those of said first set to block release of allsaid projections from their receiving means when said first setentrances are closed by said movable means, said movable means includingmeans for supporting the subdividing grid means from said projections.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said receiving means comprisesan elongated slot means having an open end comprising said entrance.

'3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movable means comprises acatch having a closure portion and a stop shoulder, said catch beingslidable on said structural member to dispose the said closure portionacross said entrance and said stop shoulder in abutment with theprojection received therein to limit the gravitational movement of thecatch downwardly to the entrance-closing disposition.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said structural member comprises aperipheral frame member of said grid means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting structural membercomprises a peripheral frame member on said grid mearis, and each saidreceiving means comprises an elongated slot'means in said frame memberhaving an open end at an edge ofthe frame member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said movable means comprises a catchmovable on said frame member to a position extending across a saidentrance. and means for releasably retaining said catch spaced from thesaid entrance during installation and removal of said grid meansrelative to said cabinet.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each said catch is provided with ahandle portion extending inwardly of said peripheral frame member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said subdividing means has arectangular periphery defined by a pair of flanges on a pair of oppositesides, each flange having an exposed edge and ends, and each saidreceiving means comprises a slot in said flange adjacent an end thereof,the slots at one end of said subdividing means extending inwardly ofsaid flange edges and the slots at the opposite end of said flangesextending inwardly ofa flange end.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said flanges is providedwith a slidable catch having a retaining portion adapted to extend overa slot to retain the corresponding projection therein.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said movable means comprises a pairof mirror image catches slidable to positions extending across saidentrances at opposite sides of the structural member.

11. In an icemaker including a cabinet and subdividing means in saidcabinet defined by a heated wire grid carried by a peripheral structuralmember for subdividing an ice slab delivered onto said grid, structurefor selectively mounting said subdividing means comprising:

first support means for providing a first support of said subdividingmeans; and second support means for providing a second support of saidsubdividing means including means on said structural member defining anupwardly opening slot, projection means fixedly on said cabinetpositioned to be received respectively in said slot by a movement ofsaid subdividing means relative to said projection means, and meanscooperating with said projection means and said first support means tosupport said subdividing means at an angle to the horizontal includinglocking means slidably carried on the'subdividing means gravitationallybiased downwardly therealong for selectively overlying the projectionmeans in said slot and including means for engaging the projection meansto provide said second support of the subdividing means and to limit thegravitational downward movement of the locking means to said overly ingrelationship.

12. The mounting structure of claim 11 wherein said locking meanscomprises a pair of mirror-image-locking elements mounted on saidstructural member at opposite sides thereof and said mounting structureincludes a pair of slots, one each in said opposite sides.

13. The mounting structure of claim 12 wherein said locking meansincludes a fingertip manipulating portion extending inwardly of saidperipheral structural member.

14. The mounting structure of claim 13 further including detent meansfor releasably holding said locking means spaced from said slot asduring installation and removal of the subdividing means relative to theprojection means.

33 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3I624! D t d November 30,

Invent r(s) GEORGE E. PAVEK It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Claim 5, column 3, line 53, cancel "mounting".

Signed and sealed this 30th day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JR. ROBERT GOTI'SCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. In an icemaker having a cabinet, ice-slab-forming means, andsubdividing grid means for subdividing an ice slab into smallerportions, said subdividing means including a structural member,apparatus for releasably mounting said subdividing means in saidcabinet, comprising: a plurality of interengaging projections on saidcabinet and projection-receiving means on said structural member, eachSaid receiving means having an entrance for receiving its interengagedprojection; and movable means movably carried on said structural memberadjacent a first set of said projection receiving means gravitationallybiased to close the entrance thereof to prevent removal from theprojection-receiving means of corresponding projections receivedtherein, the others of said receiving means having their entrancesopening unparallel to those of said first set to block release of allsaid projections from their receiving means when said first setentrances are closed by said movable means, said movable means includingmeans for supporting the subdividing grid means from said projections.2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said receiving means comprisesan elongated slot means having an open end comprising said entrance. 3.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movable means comprises a catchhaving a closure portion and a stop shoulder, said catch being slidableon said structural member to dispose the said closure portion acrosssaid entrance and said stop shoulder in abutment with the projectionreceived therein to limit the gravitational movement of the catchdownwardly to the entrance-closing disposition.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said structural member comprises a peripheral framemember of said grid means.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidmounting structural member comprises a peripheral frame member on saidgrid means, and each said receiving means comprises an elongated slotmeans in said frame member having an open end at an edge of the framemember.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said movable means comprisesa catch movable on said frame member to a position extending across asaid entrance, and means for releasably retaining said catch spaced fromthe said entrance during installation and removal of said grid meansrelative to said cabinet.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each saidcatch is provided with a handle portion extending inwardly of saidperipheral frame member.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidsubdividing means has a rectangular periphery defined by a pair offlanges on a pair of opposite sides, each flange having an exposed edgeand ends, and each said receiving means comprises a slot in said flangeadjacent an end thereof, the slots at one end of said subdividing meansextending inwardly of said flange edges and the slots at the oppositeend of said flanges extending inwardly of a flange end.
 9. The apparatusof claim 8 wherein each of said flanges is provided with a slidablecatch having a retaining portion adapted to extend over a slot to retainthe corresponding projection therein.
 10. The apparatus of claim 3wherein said movable means comprises a pair of mirror image catchesslidable to positions extending across said entrances at opposite sidesof the structural member.
 11. In an icemaker including a cabinet andsubdividing means in said cabinet defined by a heated wire grid carriedby a peripheral structural member for subdividing an ice slab deliveredonto said grid, structure for selectively mounting said subdividingmeans comprising: first support means for providing a first support ofsaid subdividing means; and second support means for providing a secondsupport of said subdividing means including means on said structuralmember defining an upwardly opening slot, projection means fixedly onsaid cabinet positioned to be received respectively in said slot by amovement of said subdividing means relative to said projection means,and means cooperating with said projection means and said first supportmeans to support said subdividing means at an angle to the horizontalincluding locking means slidably carried on the subdividing meansgravitationally biased downwardly therealong for selectively overlyingthe projection means in said slot and including means for engaging theprojection means to provide said second support of the subdividing meansand to limit thE gravitational downward movement of the locking means tosaid overlying relationship.
 12. The mounting structure of claim 11wherein said locking means comprises a pair of mirror-image-lockingelements mounted on said structural member at opposite sides thereof andsaid mounting structure includes a pair of slots, one each in saidopposite sides.
 13. The mounting structure of claim 12 wherein saidlocking means includes a fingertip manipulating portion extendinginwardly of said peripheral structural member.
 14. The mountingstructure of claim 13 further including detent means for releasablyholding said locking means spaced from said slot as during installationand removal of the subdividing means relative to the projection means.